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Giving a game a low score is always sad, especially when it's a game with a lot of potential. Sands of Destruction, unfortunately, is a sad excuse of the great JRPG it could have been. The plot's premises (a group of heroes out to destroy the world) could have been interesting in better hands, but sadly the characters' horrid dialogues and lack of characterization (mixed with a lack of concrete reasons to do what they are doing for 90% of the game, especially the main character) totally ruined any pathos the plot could have had (quite surprisingly, since the writer is Masato Kato). The shallow attempts at humour are not only unsuccessful, but also manage to further compromise the game's atmosphere. The setting is also quite unpolished: aside from the initial premises there is no effort to give it any life or credibility, making for a world not worthy the time to be saved or destroyed. And those aren't even the main issues: the battle system, sadly, is completely broken, with bugged turn order (the turn indicator is practically useless, since any monster will act multiple times in a row even when he wasn't supposed to have a turn, totally ruining any strategy), senseless damage fluctuations from turn to turn (an attack that does 1 damage could very well be a one-shot killer the next turn) and unbalanced attacks (the flurry combos, being ridiculously powerful, are the way to go, nor is there any practical reason to develop the characters in any other way). Sure, the graphics are nice and Mitsuda's OST while not a masterpiece is enjoyable, but Sands of Destruction is nonetheless a big disappointment.

While the game's plot and setting aren't anything to write home about, (especially comparing them to the first chapter's), Valkyria Chronicles 2's gameplay manages to prove that the original's innovative tactical formula can be not only adapted to handhelds, but also improved in the process. The customization options for the tank and for every single cadet in your army are enormous, and while some features could have been better streamlined (the degree system, for example) the possibilities are almost endless. The number of missions (many of them optional) has also skyrocketed, as well as the game's longevity thanks to one of the best post-game to grace a game of this genre in the last years. Instead of having a single map as in the PS3 original, VC2's missions are played on many minor maps tied together by command bases, a thing that you will learn to appreciate as soon as you begin to move your units quickly from map to map using the retreatreserve system. Sakimoto's excellent OST only manages to add its unique flavour to an already great game, and every fan of the first Valkyria (and of tactical JRPGs) should give Lanseal's cadets a chance to shine.

Atelier Rorona is a throwback to the pre-Iris days of the franchise, when the management of time, alchemic resources and money was the center of the experience and not simply a feature (albeit a prominent one) in an otherwise traditional turn based JRPG. In Rorona you have no great, epic quest, nor evil opponents: it is the story of a young alchemist apprentice striving to save her workshop during a three-years period, performing quests given her by the Kingdom to prove her usefulness. The slice of life atmosphere of the plot, coupled with the sheer number of things to do (kingdom quests, quests for the citizens of Arland, quests for other characters etc, not to mention little plot branches and many different endings) manages to give the game an unique identity (at least if you haven't played the japanese pre-Iris Atelier or Ds' Atelier Annie) and, even if some features could have been better (the battle system is a little on the simplistic side), Rorona is an highly enjoyable experience provided you don't expect a traditional JRPG formula.

Infinite Space, while sadly overlooked by many, is an astounding masterpiece that manages to mix an high profile, long and extremely rewarding sci-fi plot reminiscent of Tanaka and Clark, well written dialogues and a believable, painstakingly characterized setting with a battle system capable to simulate the struggles of your growing space fleet (up to four ships on both sides). There is an astounding potential for customization (dozens of ships, modules, weapons, recruitable characters to assign positions in your army), and the battles themselves rely heavily on movements, weapon range and logistics, managing to retain their charm even when you hit the 60-hour **** you have even a passing interest in space-operas you ought to play Infinite Space as soon as possible.

Ys Seven is a great addition to a great series: not only does it manage to preserve the fast paced action and great dungeon crawling of the previous Ys games, it also successfully adds to the proven formula many new elements such as multiple party members, skills learned from weapons and a nice item crafting system. The land of Altago with its massive overworld is a joy to explore, and the capital city as well as the villages are all fascinating locales to a great adventure. The OST, while not as great as Felghana, is still gorgeous, and the boss fights are some of the best in the series thanks to the beautiful battle system and to new options such as the flash guard. If you like action-JRPG Ys Seven is right up your alley, and if you have never had a chance to enjoy this genre this game could very well be a surprise.